"Bike Manufacturers" via BikeBlogCollection in Google Reader

Attention Twin Cities! Get Your World Premier On!

2012-05-22T19:26:49Z

Just over a week till the Twin Cities hosts the World Premier of Reveal The Path, Mike Dion's follow-up film to Ride The Divide.

May 31st, 7 & 9PM shows at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis!

We've got a fun evening planned and hope you'll join us. The filmmakers, cast, and soundtrack musician will be in attendance and the word on the street is that there will be a live bike-harp performance pre-show. You'll have a chance to mingle with them before the show.

Minneapolis is often touted as one of, if not the best, cycling city in the United States. Our hope is to fill the Riverview Theater for this world premier, so please spread the word, and attend if you can. Those that show up have a shot at winning some great Salsa schwag, including a new, limited edition Salsa print by local artist Adam Turman.

Tickets are available online here.

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

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And don't forget to enter the Reveal Your Path Post Card & Video Contests! New entries are being posted every day!

Salsa Demo Tour - Mid-Atlantic Region & Dirt Fest

2012-05-04T11:00:34Z

Our demo truck is on the road and will be hitting the Mid-Atlantic region May 11th - 17th. Come on out and saddle up on a Salsa demo bike!

The following bike models should be present at these events:

Fargo, El Mariachi, Mamasita, Spearfish, Horsethief, and Mukluk

Here's the schedule and contact info for the upcoming Mid-Atlantic demo events.

Friday May 11th
3pm-7pm

Carvins Cove Bennett Springs trailhead
www.carvinscove.com

For more Info contact:

East Coasters Bike Shop
3544 Electric Road Roanoke, VA

540.774.7933
www.eastcoasters.com

Saturday May 12th
10am-2pm

Massanutten Western Slope (trail fee waived for demo)
http://sbcsalsademoday.eventbrite.com/

www.svbcoalition.org/massanutten.php

For more Info contact:

Shenandoah Bicycle Company
135 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA

540.437.9000
www.shenandoahbicycle.com

Sunday May 13th
1pm-7pm

James River Park System Reedy Creek Trailhead
http://richmond-more.org/trail-guide-1/jrps-loop

For more info contact:

Carytown Bicycle Company
3112 W. Cary Street Richmond, VA

804.440.2453
www.carytownbicyclecompany.com

Monday May 14th
3pm-7pm

Fountain Head Regional Park
10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, 22039

For more info contact:

Spokes Etc
10937 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA

703.591.2200
http://spokesetc.com/merchant/288/files/salsademoinfo.pdf

Tuesday May 15th
2pm-7pm

Schaeffer Farm Trail System – Seneca Creek State Park
Interstate 270 to exit 15B Rt. 118 West - Follow for 2.8 miles - Right onto Richter Farm Road - Take left on 4-way stop on Schaeffer Road - Stay on Schaeffer Road through traffic circle - Shortly after road narrows look for sign to Seneca State Park on the left - Trailhead is at end of parking lot after gate.

For more info contact

Trails End Cycling
201 N 23rd Street Purcellville, VA

540.338.2773
www.trailsendcycling.com

Bike Doctor Frederick
5732 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD

301.620.8868
www.bikedoctorfrederick.com

Wednesday May 16th
2pm-7pm

Patapsco Valley State Park Avalon Area
5120 South Street Baltimore, MD 21227

For more info contact:

Joes Bike Shop
5813 Falls Road, 723 South Broadway Baltimore, MD

410.323.2788 or 443.869.3435

Thursday May 17th
1pm-7pm

Brandywine Creek State Park/Woodlawn Trustees Trails – Setup Behind T.G.I.Fridays at corner of Woodlawn road and 202

For more info contact:

Garrison’s Cyclery
5801 Kennett Pike Wilmington, DE

302.384.6827
www.garrisonscyclery.com

Trophy Bike Shop
712 N 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA

215.592.1234
www.trophybikes.com

Bicycle Revolutions
756 South 4th Street Philadelphia, PA

215-629-2453
www.bicyclerevolutions.com

also...

The demo truck will then be hitting Dirt Rag's Dirt Fest event so you can get riding, beer sampling, camping, and music-grooving taken care of in one fell swoop!

May 18th - 20th

Hesston, PA

2012 AZT 300 Gear List: When More Is Just Right

2012-05-17T11:00:37Z

Two weeks before this year’s Arizona Trail 300, I had created a mental gear list of what I was going to carry along for the event. This year I wanted to try to pick up where I left off in 2011, which meant traveling light, fast, and efficiently. The course is just shy of 300 miles of mostly rugged desert singletrack through some of the most beautiful country southern Arizona has to offer. This was to be my fourth straight Spring of taking on some or all of the AZT. In 2009, I rode the 300 as my second ever self-supported ultra. In 2010, I time-trialed the full 750 miles of the AZT. Last year I decided at the last minute to do the 300 again, only to be knocked off record pace and out of the race by a rather stupid crash on the northern flank of Mount Lemmon.

Anyway, back to my gear. My plan was to once again ride my Spearfish, although most of its parts have changed since last year as things wore out. The biggest changes include a new rear triangle with a 12mm thru-axle, which made a noticeable improvement in the tracking of the bike in rough terrain, some lighter wheels, and reliable XT brakes. The drivetrain is still a 9-speed triple setup, which I find ideal for these sorts of races.

My Spearfish taking a quick break on the final climb of the race...

Tire choice could provide hours of debate among AZT racers. The course is full of sharp rocks, jagged cobbles, razor-edged pebbles, and the full array of Sonoran Desert pointy vegetation. Sidewall slices in particular, are everyone’s biggest fear since the result of one is losing a tubeless setup, which in turn renders a tire, even with a Slime tube, very vulnerable to all the spines that lie in and reach out into the trail. The safest bet are a pair of nearly indestructible Panaracer Rampages, which provide both ample traction and rotating weight. I took a bit of a gamble and ended up pairing a Schwalbe Racing Ralph on the front and a Maxxis Ikon on the rear, using models of both with reinforced sidewalls. These are lightweight racing-oriented tires, but after having good luck with some unreinforced Michelin tires the past few years, I decided to give these a go. But that was only after several weeks of agonizing second- and third- and fourth-guessing my decision.

Amazing scenery north of the Gila River...

My mental list of gear two weeks before the event was short. For clothing, it included a wind vest, arm and knee warmers, a light insulated vest, and a warm cap. The sleeping kit was an emergency bivy and nothing more since I was hoping to get away without sleeping more than a few minutes. I would also carry a mini pump, a tiny shock pump, a few key spare parts, two tubes (one with sealant, one without), a tiny bottle of sealant, chain lube, a few tire boots, tire plugs, patches, needle and thread for tire/tube repair, and Gorilla tape.

For repairs and dealing with spiny thing, I bring a multi-tool, tiny pliers, and tweezers. I always carry a small first-aid kit, ClO2 tablets for treating water, sunscreen, chamois butter, ibuprofen, and toilet paper. All this would go in my homemade frame bag, a Revelate Designs Lemming seat bag, and my Osprey Talon 22 pack. I also used a 4L bladder, one bottle on my fork, and an additional 2L bladder in case the mercury rose into the 90s or 100s. For navigation, I still use the old Garmin Etrex Vista HCx GPS and carry printed cues as a backup. And for lighting, I carried two Fenix LD20 flashlights on the bars and an old Princeton Tec Apex on my helmet. Some of the new sections of AZT are incredibly faint and difficult to follow in the dark.

Rethinking everything once again...

A week out, I piled all these things on the floor of our gear room and then stuffed it in my bags. They were all mostly empty. This was what I really wanted – minimal bulk, minimal weight, and general simplicity. Then I began to pay attention to the weather forecast. A strong low-pressure system was looking like it might pass right through southern Arizona on the second day of the race. Rain, wind, and possible snow on Mount Lemmon – an eerie repeat of the 2009 race when I climbed over Lemmon through several inches of slush and snow in miserably cold conditions.

Suddenly my rather minimalist kit looked a bit unwise. I added things to the pile as the days went by and the weather models began to exhibit converging predictions. First it was a 40-degree sleeping bag, rain gear, cool-weather gloves, and an extra pair of socks. Soon waterproof socks and gloves fell onto the pile. Then as the forecast became even colder, lobster gloves, waterproof booties, and a long-sleeved jersey were added. So much for going light...

Riders anxious to get going with their AZT adventures...

On Friday morning, 40-some riders milled about, inspecting each other’s kits, discussing strategies, recent adventures, and future plans. Through all this, I reconsidered my kit several times under a sunny, cloudless sky. How could it rain on us the next day? Ultimately, I started with everything that had been in that pile on the floor. My bike was disappointingly heavy. But when the rain started falling on the second morning with the temperature only in the low 40s, I was glad to have all the waterproof gear. When I started the long grind up Mount Lemmon and saw cars coming down with several inches of snow on top, I gained a bit of confidence knowing that I had some decent warm clothing still in my pack. By the time the road became covered by several inches of snow still ten miles from the summit, I had to dig into that warm clothing in order to keep my core temperature from getting too low as my rain gear became covered both outside and inside with ice.

Covered in ice upon reaching Summerhaven; Photo by Carol Mack

I managed to once again climb through a freak April snowstorm in the middle of the race, just like in 2009, trudge down the unrideable snowy singletrack of Oracle Ridge on the north side of the mountain, and continue on to win in just under 2 days 8 hours and break the old course record. Had I skimped on the gear that the wisest part of my brain suggested, I would have ended up being forced to bivy down lower until conditions improved. Everything else went more or less according to plan, although I did end up sleeping for a couple hours on the second night. My bike worked flawlessly (except for when the drivetrain became completely encrusted in ice) and the tires remained filled with air and unscathed.

Oracle Ridge’s heinous singletrack made even worse...

In the world of ultralight adventuring, there’s a fine line between going as light as possible and being unprepared. I’ve learned through more than a few experiences like these that it’s worth carrying a pound or two of extra gear in order to be somewhat comfortable and a bit safer when conditions really deteriorate. This also provides a margin of safety should your adventure take an unexpected turn for the worse, something well worth considering when you are planning your next big ride.

Nearing the finish, exhausted and sore all over; Photo by Caroline Soong

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WORLD PREMIER of Reveal The Path! May 31st, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Enjoy and evening with Salsa and the cast and crew of Reveal The Path. Live music from soundtrack artist Dominique Fraissard!

Limited seats available. Buy tickets now!

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Click here for full theatrical tour schedule!

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Enter the Reveal Your Path Post Card & Video Contests!

Salsa Minimalist Rack Voluntary Recall

2012-05-10T15:00:56Z

Salsa Cycles Recalls Bicycle Racks Due to a Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of product: Salsa Minimalist bicycle racks
Units: About 1,100
Manufacturer: Salsa Cycles, a wholly-owned brand of Quality Bicycle Products Inc., of Bloomington, Minn.
Hazard: The L-shaped mounting straps used to attach the bicycle rack to the front of the bicycle can break and cause the rack to fall while the bicycle is in use, posing a fall hazard to the rider.
Incidents/Injuries: Salsa Cycles has received two reports of bicycle racks breaking at the mounting straps, resulting in minor injuries from falls.
Description: This recall involves all Salsa Minimalist bicycle racks sold after January 2011. The racks are made of tubular aluminum with a black or silver finish, and can be installed on either the front or rear of a bicycle. The recalled bicycle racks have steel mounting brackets, identified as straps, with a single hole in the center used to mount the strap to the bicycle fork. “Salsa” is printed on the side of the bicycle rack.
Sold by: Bicycle retail stores nationwide and on Internet retailers from January 2011 through March 2012 for about $80.
Manufactured in: Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the recalled bicycle racks and contact an authorized Salsa dealer for inspection, re-mounting or refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact the firm toll-free at (877) 725-7211 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.salsacycles.com.

Salsa Minimalist Rack wtih mounting strap circled:

Salsa Minimalist Rack mounting straps:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov.

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products—such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals—contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing and speech impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

Salsa Short Film: So Far To Go - Part Three

2012-05-08T11:00:34Z

-----------

Reveal The Path World Premier, May 31st, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Enjoy a fun-filled night with Salsa and the cast and crew of Reveal The Path. Live musical performance by Dominique Fraissard.

Limited seating! Buy tickets now!

See full theatrical tour schedule here.

----------

Don't miss your chance to share your story. Enter the Reveal Your Path Postcard and Video Contests. You might win big!

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Salsa Short Film: So Far To Go - Part Two

2012-05-07T11:00:04Z

Salsa Demo Tour - Mid-Atlantic Region & Dirt Fest

2012-05-04T11:00:44Z

Our demo truck is on the road and will be hitting the Mid-Atlantic region May 11th - 17th. Come on out and saddle up on a Salsa demo bike!

The following bike models should be present at these events:

Fargo, El Mariachi, Mamasita, Spearfish, Horsethief, and Mukluk

Here's the schedule and contact info for the upcoming Mid-Atlantic demo events.

Friday May 11th
3pm-7pm

Carvins Cove Bennett Springs trailhead
www.carvinscove.com

For more Info contact:

East Coasters Bike Shop
3544 Electric Road Roanoke, VA

540.774.7933
www.eastcoasters.com

Saturday May 12th
10am-2pm

Massanutten Western Slope (trail fee waived for demo)
http://sbcsalsademoday.eventbrite.com/

www.svbcoalition.org/massanutten.php

For more Info contact:

Shenandoah Bicycle Company
135 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA

540.437.9000
www.shenandoahbicycle.com

Sunday May 13th
1pm-7pm

James River Park System Reedy Creek Trailhead
http://richmond-more.org/trail-guide-1/jrps-loop

For more info contact:

Carytown Bicycle Company
3112 W. Cary Street Richmond, VA

804.440.2453
www.carytownbicyclecompany.com

Monday May 14th
3pm-7pm

Fountain Head Regional Park
10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, 22039

For more info contact:

Spokes Etc
10937 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA

703.591.2200
http://spokesetc.com/merchant/288/files/salsademoinfo.pdf

Tuesday May 15th
2pm-7pm

For more info contact

Trails End Cycling
201 N 23rd Street Purcellville, VA

540.338.2773
www.trailsendcycling.com

Bike Doctor Frederick
5732 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD

301.620.8868
www.bikedoctorfrederick.com

Wednesday May 16th
2pm-7pm

Patapsco Valley State Park Avalon Area
5120 South Street Baltimore, MD 21227

For more info contact:

Joes Bike Shop
5813 Falls Road, 723 South Broadway Baltimore, MD

410.323.2788 or 443.869.3435

Thursday May 17th
1pm-7pm

Brandywine Creek State Park/Woodlawn Trustees Trails – Setup Behind T.G.I.Fridays at corner of Woodlawn road and 202

For more info contact:

Garrison’s Cyclery
5801 Kennett Pike Wilmington, DE

302.384.6827
www.garrisonscyclery.com

Trophy Bike Shop
712 N 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA

215.592.1234
www.trophybikes.com

Bicycle Revolutions
756 South 4th Street Philadelphia, PA

215.629.2456
www.bicyclerevolutions.com

also...

The demo truck will then be hitting Dirt Rag's Dirt Fest event so you can get riding, beer sampling, camping, and music-grooving taken care of in one fell swoop!

May 18th - 20th

Hesston, PA

Salsa Short Film: So Far To Go - Part One

2012-05-03T11:00:40Z

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Reveal The Path World Premier, May 31st, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Enjoy a fun-filled night with Salsa and the cast and crew of Reveal The Path. Live musical performance by Dominique Fraissard.

Limited seating! Buy tickets now!

See full theatrical tour schedule here.

----------

Don't miss your chance to share your story. Enter the Reveal Your Path Postcard and Video Contests. You might win big!

----------

Announcing The Reveal Your Path Post Card and Video Contests!

2012-05-01T14:00:47Z

In celebration of the upcoming theatrical release of the film Reveal The Path, we are happy to announce our REVEAL YOUR PATH POST CARD and VIDEO CONTESTS!

At Salsa, we believe the bicycle can be much more than just a bike. It is a path to new places, new people, and amazing experiences. Bikes have played a profound part in each of our lives—we think that may be true for you too.

Perhaps someone—or something—sparked your adventurous spirit when you were a kid. Or maybe you came to it later. Tell us how it happened and where it led you. We want to hear about the great things you’ve done, and continue to do, with bicycles. Most of all, we want to know about the rides you dream of doing in the future.

So really—If you could ride your bicycle anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Share your inspirations, adventures, and dreams with us. Reveal your path.

The REVEAL YOUR PATH POST CARD CONTEST begins today! Enter by creating a post card that tells your story. Get creative, have some fun, and mail it in to us. We'll be picking 100 winners, including one lucky winner who will receive a 2013 Fargo 2 Frameset. Visit the contest site for full details.

The REVEAL YOUR PATH VIDEO CONTEST also begins today, but submissions cannot be entered until July 2nd. We're giving you plenty of advance notice on this video contest because we are looking for some truly great entries. To motivate you, we're giving away some truly great prizes!

Six lucky winners will come away with 2013 Fargo or El Mariachi framesets, one winner will receive a complete Fargo or El Mariachi bicycle, and the grand-prize winner will receive a complete Mukluk Ti bicycle and an all-expenses-paid beach-riding trip to Alaska with the Salsa crew. Again, visit the contest site for full details.

In the coming weeks we'll be sharing some of our own stories with you. Like you, each of us has taken an interesting path to get where we are today. Bikes, the outdoors, and adventure have played a part in all our lives. That said, we really excited to see, read, and hear your stories.

Good luck and have fun with the contests!

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Reveal The Path World Premier, May 31st, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Buy Tickets Here!

See Theatrical Tour Schedule Here!

Spring Dirt

2012-04-25T13:55:29Z

Our mild winter has led to early dirt. Last Friday the Salsa crew hit the trail system up at Cuyuna for some spring dirt.

Our day started with a a few hour drive up to the Cuyuna trail system outside of Ironton, MN. This is a new 25+ mile trail system that opened up last year. Our friends Hansi from IMBA, Nick the trail boss and Steve from the DNR were there to welcome us and ride with us. These fine folks were really involved in making this trail system a reality. Before our ride, they shared some info about the area and the trails. One of the facts that I thought stood out was that over a 2 month period, Cuyuna trails brought over 15,000 bikers into the community. These bikers camped, stayed in the hotels & resorts, ate in the resteraunts, bought fuel and spent who knows how much in the community. This project is proof that investing in mountain bike trails can be a really good thing. We are greatful for their hardwork and the trails are simply awesome. If you have not made a trip up, down or over to Cuyuna, you need to. It won't disappoint.

Right now the trails are so unbelievably perfect. Last year when we were up there the trails were new and felt new. After the MN winter snow pack and some early rain, the trails felt a bit more natural, firm and narrow. One other really great thing was that the brush had not grown in, so the site lines and views were spectacular. While I could have shot pictures all day up there, we were there to ride and experience the premium spring dirt.

Spring dirt. Go get some.

Teaser: So Far To Go

2012-04-20T13:14:00Z

We are about a week away from finishing the production of a short film called So Far To Go. We hope you enjoy this teaser.

Getting Fat & There’s No Going Back!

2012-04-18T12:00:43Z

When I first found out that I was getting a Mukluk I was excited for the obvious reasons. Fat Bike!!! I knew that having a fat bike would allow me to go places normally off-limits to a regular bike in the winter. However, I had NO clue just how many different places it would allow me to go. Or how many miles I would put on it. Or how much fun riding it would be. My Mukluk has undergone a metamorphosis from being a bike I thought I would ride occasionally to being one of the bikes I ride the most.

Don’t get me wrong. I always have a lot of fun when riding a bike. However the fun factor seems just a little higher when on a Mukluk. I’m not quite sure exactly why but I think it has to do with the feeling I got this winter when entering snowy singletrack. I felt like I was riding in a snow globe.

Enter the snow globe...

Or how cool it felt when I rode my Mukluk out to the beach for the first time. There was something really great about reaching sand (where I normally have to stop) and being able to keep riding. I think riding on an empty beach with the sun sparkling off the waves, and the wind whipping around my helmet, has to be one of my all-time favorite rides.

Who needs Maui when you've got Michigan?

What I wasn’t expecting when I joined the Fat Bike world was all the extra attention I was going to get. Of all the bikes I own, my Mukluk is the least expensive. It was built with a lot of used and donated parts. However, it’s the bike people want to check out the most. On one of my first Mukluk rides a car pulled over and a man hopped out waving me down. I didn’t know him but he wanted to check out my bike (and he really was checking out my bike). From that point on runners, walkers, kids, and everyone in between have stopped me. Once I was riding down the road when another cyclist pulled up to me. He was on a fancy carbon TT bike, complete with an aero helmet and disc wheels. I looked at him, he looked at me, and then he looked at my bike. “Whoa, cool bike,” he said. I proudly nodded in agreement. Fat Bikes rule.

Whoa...two cool bikes...

It’s awesome, being able to talk about bikes with people I would normally never meet. Everyone always has the same questions. How much does your bike weigh? 33.5 pounds. What’s the frame bag for? Storing PayDay bars and gummy bears. Where do you ride it? EVERYWHERE! That’s the biggest lesson I learned after getting my Mukluk. The first rule of riding a Fat Bike is that there aren’t any rules. I ride it just like I ride my other bikes. I do intervals, I do endurance rides, and I’ve even raced it a few times. The only difference is that when I’m on a Mukluk I don’t ride up hills…I crush them! And I don’t fishtail in sand…I float. When it’s windy out, my Mukluk will always be my first bike of choice for training. I feel way less vulnerable when big wind gusts are hitting me. I just hold on tight and my Mukluk anchors me down.

Ruling the singletrack...

Now that spring is turning into summer, I will be racing my El Mariachi and Selma more. Initially I thought that I would be putting my Mukluk into storage until next winter but au contraire. It’s too good of a training tool and I have too much fun on it. I have mini-adventures planned all summer long that include singletrack, the river bed, riding out to the beach for sno-cones, and recovery rides to the bakery for coffee and cinnamon rolls. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...Fat Bikes rule!

A Day Of Firsts

2012-04-12T12:00:16Z

At 4:30 AM my internal alarm clock went off through the fog of a restless sleep. As my feet hit the bedroom floor my mind and body started to awaken with anticipated energy of the upcoming day’s adventure—it had the potential to be an epic day…sweet…

Ever since I moved to Durango, Colorado I have wanted to make a winter/spring climb and ski of one of the town’s signature peaks. Standing as a sentry over Durango, Silver Peak rises prominently to 12,496 feet. Its summit is not the tallest in the La Plata range, but it is the most recognizable, and picturesque from virtually anywhere in Durango. Gaining the summit of the peak is a worthy goal for most even in the warmest of months. Though not technically very difficult, it has a long approach with some steep scrambling. Once on the summit, one is welcomed with breathtaking views of Durango, the northern San Juan's, the rest of the La Plata range, and the desert country of New Mexico. One also gets to look into the giant alpine bowl, which is the crowning feature of the mountain’s east flank.

Silver Peak - 12496 feet...

Skiing this bowl has been on my winter tick list. My bike route to work each day provides me with a clear view of the bowl for nearly my entire ride. I always find my mind wandering to its snow-covered summit and the imagined feeling of dropping into the east bowl—center lining its face with smooth ski turns. Aside from the usual hazards that a winter ascent presents (avalanche dangers, short days, etc), perhaps the crux of the route is the even longer approach. Outside of winter, one can drive on a gravel forest service road to a drainage which leads to the peak’s west bowl and the eventual summit. In the winter, this road is impassable to all unless one has access to a snowmobile or has the fortitude to ski the five miles to the drainage (this typically isn’t feasible as it is another three miles up a steep drainage to the summit making one’s day a sixteen-mile round trip that will assuredly begin and end in darkness).

The advent of the fatbike made me start seeing what is possible on a bike in much different ways. With the bike’s ability to float through sand and snow, the dreamer in me began devising ways to utilize these fun machines to access terrain for other adventures and pursuits (i.e. backcountry skiing, canyoneering, surfing, etc). Needless to say, when my Salsa Mukluk arrived a couple of weeks ago I was eager to make my dreams a reality. The first order of business was to access backcountry ski terrain—to ride to, and then ski, Silver Peak.

Having designed and built my frame bags and other gear for the Tour Divide ride, I had thought a lot about how I would carry my backcountry equipment (skis, boots, poles, pack) on the bike. My ideas involved retrofitting a rear rack with PVC pipe for holding the skis (similar to what is often times utilized as ski holders on snowmachines) with a boot bag also acting as a rear pannier. Being anxious to do some snow riding, I decided to forgo the rack and PVC idea for a simpler method…transport the skis and poles across the handle bars utilizing an Ensolite pad and my gear sling. Now I realize this isn’t the most efficient of methods (for obvious bike handling reasons), but I believed it could work in the short term—especially on a forest service road where my wide load would not be inhibited by the tight trees of singletrack.

An unorthadox way to carry skis...but it worked...

Pedaling by headlamp the Mukluk easily rolled up the five snow-packed miles to Tirbircio Creek. What would have taken me more than a couple of hours to ski was covered in less than 50 minutes by bike. Before dawn broke I was skinning my way up the drainage towards my objective for the day. By 8:30 AM I was kicking steps up a steep couloir to gain the summit ridge.

Thousands of steps to the summit ridge...

Negotiating the summit ridge was a bit tricky as the snow conditions and cornices made the going slow and safe route finding interesting. By 11 AM I was on the summit of Silver Peak—wahoo! The views were some of the most rewarding I had taken in this ski season. It felt exhilarating to gaze down into the east bowl and realize I was about to drop in on a goal I have had for a long time. The snow conditions were stable and perfect and I was soon making my first turns down the bowl’s steep face. Sweetness! Before long I was at the bottom of the bowl and had to begin the climb back to the summit so I could ski the peak’s west bowl and descend back to my bike for a nice ride back to my truck.

Looking down the east face of Silver Peak toward Durango...

By 4:30 PM I made my last pedal strokes to my truck. What a great day! My first journey accessing the backcountry via the Mukluk was a success. Obviously, I have a few bugs to work out when it comes to transporting my gear, but overall, I learned that these amazing machines with their fat tires can be utilized for all kinds of new adventures. Oh what fun will be had in coming days!

My lone tracks in the west bowl...

Reveal The Path

2012-04-09T12:00:23Z

Here at Salsa, we talk a lot about the power of the bicycle. Not the type of power you apply to the drivetrain with each pedal stroke, but the power that a bicycle can bring to your life.

Personally, the bicycle has played a profound role in making me who I am today. It has presented rich experiences across the globe and helped me form very dear life-long friendships. It has allowed me to make a living in this world and help provide for my family. It has lifted my spirits but also reminded me of my mortality. Indeed, the bicycle has at times been my salvation. And yes, there have probably been a few times where it has been my curse.

In the coming months many of us at Salsa are going to share our stories with you. And we are going to ask you to share yours with us.

Each of us are on a path. We have taken different steps to get where we are today, and we'll face choices in the future that may bring us together, or take us apart.

Two years ago, Jason Boucher and I crossed paths with Mike Dion and Hunter Weeks at the Sea Otter Classic bike festival. They had just released their new film Ride The Divide. While we didn't meet for very long, we did stay in touch. I guess you could say we'd gotten onto the same path.

Salsa is proud to be the presenting sponsor for their follow-up film Reveal The Path. Today, I'm pleased to share the trailer with you here.

Go to the Reveal The Path website for more information on the film, including the theatrical tour schedule and the like.

Minnesota folks...save the date! May 31st!

The world premier of Reveal The Path will take place on May 31st at the Riverview Theatre here in Minneapolis. We look forward to an incredibly fun-filled and rewarding night!

New! Backcountry Grips In Stock!

2012-04-05T12:00:29Z

Our new Backcountry Grips have just arrived and gone into stock. Here's the scoop on these new products.

Backcountry Grips are available in two styles: Standard or Lock-On. Both share the same custom ADV BY BIKE text block grip texture. The sizing of that block texture was specifically sized to work well with or without gloves. The block height and gaps offer exceptional comfort, while also offering channels for moisture to escape, thereby ensuring a secure grip.

Backcountry Lock-On Grip in Blue...

The Lock-On version uses a single density rubber grip over a hardened interior plastic sleeve. A single, anodized aluminum locking collar secures the grip to the bar. The locking collar can be positioned to the inside or outside of the handlebar. The Lock-On version also tapers upward in size toward the collar. When positioned to the outside of the handlebar this helps to prevent hands from slipping off the grip/handlebar. A plastic handlebar plug is included. The Lock-On Backcountry Grip is 134mm long.

Backcountry Grip in Red...

The Standard version is a single density rubber grip with an included, plastic handlebar plug. This grip is slightly longer at 143mm. We feel this extra length allows riders to adjust their hand position slightly to suit their riding style or to provide some slight differentiation in body position during long rides.

Lock-On Backcountry Grips are available in five colors: Black, Red, Gray, White, and Blue (all with Black anodized locking collar).

Standard Backcountry Grips are available in three colors: Black, Red, and Gray.

Chili Con Cross: More Than A Bike

2012-04-03T12:00:10Z

Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s just a thing, it can’t feel, it can’t think, it doesn’t know me. However, I know it, I can feel the way it behaves, and I can sense its personality. The logical, rational side of me knows there’s nothing more to my injection of spirit into the machine than my own personalization of it. Yet, I can’t help but wonder about that intangible aspect of magic that seems to exist within each bike. To me, a bike isn’t born when it’s built, it’s born underneath its rider. It’s born through experiences that include blood, sweat, and yes, even tears.

Several times now I’ve taken a step back from my bike stand, camera in hand, looking at a new creation and wondering what it will give me, what we’ll go through together. Usually a couple of weeks later is when I feel the machine wrestling itself into this world underneath me as I finish making all the subtle tweaks and adjustments that bring us together. Once finished I resolve to it and myself that I will never change a thing...the height of the saddle, the angle of the handlebars, the positioning of the hoods...it will always remain the same. I will never blame the bike for my inadequacies while aboard it, for now all responsibility belongs to me. If I’ve taken my time in helping this “thing” into the world, it will do its job for me every time I ask.

When I took my Chili Con Crosso frameset out of the box for the first time I took a deep breath as I absorbed its aesthetics. I knew I had to get this build just right. Taking my time, I poured over every detail as if I was earning its trust. I was proud of the finished build and worried about the first time I’d scratch that beautiful paint job. I began to train with the bike and eventually I raced it. This bike would only see gravel events under my ownership; therefore I set it up for such. I would outfit it with a stiff gearing ratio for those long flat, tailwind sections I knew would eventually come. I’d exploit its low weight throughout the consistent climbs of Minnesota, Iowa, and Kansas. In fact, my first race aboard her found me winning the “King of the Mountains” competition and taking a second place overall in a race in Southern Minnesota. I felt I could really fly on this machine. Little did I know we were just getting to know each other.

That same season found me battling what seemed like hurricane conditions in the Trans Iowa. The concept of “the first scratch” was far behind me as I jammed a sturdy stick through the legs of the fork in an effort to clear the mud from my wheel, allowing it to spin freely once again. I rode my Chili through a powerful downpour that lasted approximately 15 hours before I realized the race could not, nor would it, continue under these conditions. I, or should I say “we” pulled out of that race before the director called the event. I felt terrible for leaving the race. I felt awful for stopping when the bike was still performing flawlessly. I had failed, not the bike. I vowed to win back its respect in Kansas.

The spring months of 2010 moved on and I was poised to race in the Dirty Kanza 200, a gravel monster that had taken down men and women much better than I. I swung my leg over the Chili naïve to what awaited me 130 miles down the road. Searing heat had Joe Meiser and I lying on the side of the road desperately trying to hang onto not only our sanity, but at the time what seemed like our lives. Pushing on in heat that had my frame hot to the touch, while barely managing 4 mph, I would later come to know that something special was happening out on that road. (Read Eki's account of that event here...part 1...part 2) My Chili was still there, carrying me through it, serving as my life line. The Chili Con Crosso will forever be one of the most beautiful bikes I’ve owned for more than just its looks.

Two years later I’ll still walk over to the hook my Chili frame hangs on and think about where that little nick came from, or touch the marks near the crown of the fork where I cleared the mud from my wheel in Iowa. I don’t walk away until I’ve placed a hand on her toptube and muttered, “Thanks”.

Joe, Eki, and the Chili Con Crosso at the finish of the 2010 Dirty Kanza 200...

Sign Up For The Salsa Newsletter

2012-03-28T16:34:22Z

Earlier this month we sent out our first Salsa Newsletter to folks that had purchased a Salsa bike or frame, and wished to receive other communication from us.

Now you can choose to receive the monthly Salsa Newsletter as well.

Our goal is provide some meaningful content that you'll enjoy each month, including sneak peaks of prototypes, teasers for upcoming videos, and other exclusive content.

If you sign up, you can remove yourself from the list at any time. And of course, we won't share your contact info with anyone else.

To sign up, either scroll down to the footer on any Salsa website page, or look on the upper right hand side of the Culture page tab.

Or just click here.

Signing up is easy. We ask for a bit of info from you, but also give you chance to tell us what sort of content you are most interested in reading.

Thanks for considering.

-Kid

Sign Up For The Salsa Newsletter

2012-03-28T16:34:37Z

Earlier this month we sent out our first Salsa Newsletter to folks that had purchased a Salsa bike or frame, and wished to receiver other communication from us.

Now you can choose to receive the monthly Salsa Newsletter as well.

Our goal is provide some meaningful content that you'll enjoy each month, including sneak peaks of prototypes, teasers for upcoming videos, and other exclusive content.

If you sign up, you can remove yourself from the list at any time. And of course, we won't share your contact info with anyone else.

To sign up, either scroll down to the footer on any Salsa website page, or look on the upper right hand side of the Culture page tab. Signing up is easy. We ask for a bit of info from you, but also give you chance to tell us what sort of content you are most interested in reading.

Thanks for considering.

-Kid

9 Reasons To Love The Alternator Dropout

2012-03-21T13:49:57Z

The past couple years have presented plenty of reasons to love the Alternator dropout, the versatile dropout system we started developing back in 2008 and first introduced at Sea Otter in 2010:

1. Versatility - The Alternator's adjustable swing plates allow the use of geared or singlespeed drivetrains on the same frame without chain tensioners or adaptors. It also means that when a hanger bends beyond repair, or a derailleur explodes, you can quickly and easily convert to a singlespeed drivetrain, and get yourself rolling back towards civilization (or home).

2. Easy - The bane of singlespeeds with track-end style dropouts is tedious wheel changes. With the Alternator's vertical-style dropout, it's a snap. There is no brake adaptor to loosen and no chain to re-tension. Just pop the wheel out, then back in, and go.

3. Slip Free - The swinging design and fixing bolts create a slip-free system using just one fixing bolt, compared to other systems which typically use two fixing bolts per side. The Alternator's lower fixing bolts are sized to do their job, and do it well. They do it so well that the set screws are not needed to prevent slipping. In fact, all the prototypes we tested did not even feature a set screw. We decided to add them to the final design to make chain tension adjustment super precise for the tweakers out there. Once adjusted and torqued, the set screws can be removed and the dropout will not slip under drivetrain or brake forces. Try it! It's another 5g lighter!

4. Variable Chainstay Length - Besides chain tensioning, the Alternator's swing plates also double as a geometry adjust. The 17mm of throw allow a direct variation in chainstay length and overall wheelbase. It doesn't sound like much, but just 5mm of chainstay length adjustment can make a huge difference in how a bike handles. This allows riders to fine tune the handling of the bike to their liking, or for the application at hand. Salsa's own Sean Mailen ran his Alternators in the rear-most position for the entire length of the Tour Divide route to maximize mud clearance and stability. On bikes like our Mukluk Ti, this adjustability also serves as a tire clearance adjustment, when every millimeter counts.

5. Minimal Maintainence - The Alternator holds fast and steady, and there are no surfaces that ever need to be cleaned or regreased. This means no creaking and no slipping.

6. Replaceable - All easily bendable or stripable features (like hangers and threads) are contained in the swing plates and hardware. Nothing crucial to function is part of the welded frame assembly. This means that if anything every does get tweaked of stripped, it's easily and readily replaced, and your frame is not rendered scrap metal.

Salsa design engineer Sean Mailen putting the Alternator dropouts to the test on the Great Divide Route...

7. Reliable - The Alternator has now completed several trips up and down the Tour Divide Route, a 2752-mile, off-pavement journey with nearly 200,000 feet of climbing that is notorious for exposing any and all weaknesses in bike frames and components. The Alternator has successfully completed this real-world torture test...and did it in both geared and singlespeed configurations.

For 2012, I'm happy to announce that we are also adding two very cool new reasons to be excited about the Alternator dropout:

8. 12 x 142 - Were adding a pair of plates compatible with a 12 x 142mm SRAM Maxle (which will be included). This will offer improved lateral stiffness, and open up the option to use the latest and greatest mountain bike hub and wheel offerings.

9. IGH - We're adding a left-side swing plate that uses the Rohloff OEM1 standard. Couple it with our singlespeed drive-side plate and let the IGH-enthusiasts rejoice!

Both of these new offerings have already been put through the paces and are currently in production. We expect to have them available July 1st, 2012.

Getting Dressed With Jay Petervary

2012-03-19T11:00:51Z

Winter may be inching its way toward the exit in the northern hemisphere, but it is never too late to start planning ahead. Today, Jay Petervary shares some of his knowledge with us.

Jay is perhaps one of the most accomplished, but least heard of, endurance cyclists in the world. He specializes in self-supported events. Among a host of accomplishments, he has twice ridden 1000 miles to Nome in the event now known as the Iditarod Invitational. It is not a journey for faint of heart, nor for those short of winter survival skills.

Jay took this year off from riding to Nome, but did take the time to share his winter expedition riding clothing system with us. This video represents many years of trial and error, experience, and knowledge. We hope it is a benefit to you whether you are riding to Nome, or somewhere else much closer to home.

Many thanks to Jay for his time and willingness to share his knowledge.